Tag Archives: hijackers

The people of Darfur have been confronted with ongoing harassment and brutality on the part of the Sudan government and its janjaweed mercenaries, but a new impediment has arisen in the form of gangs of bandits who steal food being sent to the area. The World Food Program(WFP) has been forced to halve food deliveries in Darfur due to the actions of hijackers and thieves. Kenro Oshidari, WFP repesentative, commented: “This is an unprecedented situation. Our humanitarian operatioon for aid workers could be forced to stop flying because we have no money at a time when our helicopters and aircraft are needed because of high insecurity on the roads.”

So far this year hijckers have attacked five WFP pasengeer vehicles and 45 trucks. If the WFP cannot maintain deliveries it will be compelled to half the amount of food being given people. The cost of the program is about $6 million a month, an amount that probably equals what is spent in a few hours in Iraq. There is something tragic is not being able to secure a few helicopters. No, not sad, tragic.

The Alice Springs backpacker hostel is at the center of a racial discrimination row when it was revealed that the company which purports to bring visitors from around the world to learn about Austrailian Aborigine culture, doesn’t appear to welcome Aborigines into their resorts. The Backpacker Resort in Alice Springs ejected a group of indigenous guests because it said that catered only “for international backpacking tourists which the group was not.” A blurb on the company website says its tours place an emphasis on “the unique scenery, wildlife and Aboriginal cultures of each area.” The group consisted mainly of Aboriginal women who had come to Alice Springs to take life-saving clases in preparation for the opening of a new swimming pool in their community. They allegedly were asked to leave the premises due to complaints by some guests.

A member of the Aboriginal group claims “they said it was because of the colour of our skin and they didn’t like us.” The hotel admitted the Aboriginal group, assigned them rooms, and then asked they leave because of guest complaints. It appears the guests, who traveled to northern Australia to meet Aborigines, were frightened to have them living amongst them.